Fountain applicator



A. E. NEELY FOUNTAIN APPLICATOR Filed July 18 1955 Jan. 6, 1959 nitd SCS ment FOUNTAIN APPLICATOR Albert E. Neely, Chicago,

Products Company, Inc., of Illinois Ill., assignor to Dupli-Color Chicago, Ill., a corporation This invention relates to a fountain applicator or fountain brush, and has particular reference to means providing air-tightness during periods of non-use of such a device.

A common function of valved fountain brushes of a type of which the present invention is co-ncerned, is the storing and the brush-dispensing of such materials as quick-drying paints, lacquers, enamels and stainsor like fluids having highly volatile solvents. Such materials quickly become almost useless for brush-dispensing when exposed to air for any extended duration of time; for when so exposed, if they do not dry out altogether, they form crusts or the like whi-ch render them unsuitable for dispensing through a valved orifice and spreading by a brush.

To aggravate the problem, such materials are often of a type which may likely not be used except after prolonged periods of non-use. For example, the material may be the so-called touch-up paint for occasional use by a motorist to cover scratches or the like in the painted surface of his automobile. In a fountain applicator or fountain 4brush for such a use, it is particularly desirable that highly effective sealing means be provided to prevent the material from drying out.

lt is thus an object of the present invention to provide new and improved sealing means for a fountain applicator or fountain brush.

Another object is to adapt a standard bottle having a screw thread neck for use as the reservoir and nozzle carrier of a fountain brush.

It is another object of my invention to provide a multiple-type sealing means for such a device of the type having a screw-attachable cap, which will provide positive and highly effective means for sealing a plurality of mating surfaces in response to the single action of screwing in a normal manner the cap onto the body of the device.

A further object of my invention is the provision of nozzle sealing means in an economical manner.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, with relation to a general and specific improvement of fountain applicators and brushes, will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the applicator and closure cap assembly of this invention, and shown in closed position;

Figure 2 is an end view of the cap shown in Fig. 1';

Figure 3 ijs a vertical cross-section of the applicator without the cap, taken along the line III-III of Fig. l;

Figurev 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the cap Abeing applied to the nozzle of the applicator;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the cap in place as screw-threaded onto the applicator body;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line ICC Figure 7 is a view similar alternative construction.

As shown on the drawings:

The applicator or fountain brush 10 includes a body l2, preferably in the form of a glass, plastic or metal bottle and forming a uid reservoir chamber or barrel which is adapted to be closed by a closure cap 13. As shown, the body 12 has a neck 14 of cylindrical conguration terminating at a neck mouth 16, and that neck 14 is provided on its exterior with screw threads 18 which mate with corresponding screw threads 19 carried by the cap of the device to permit the user to bring the cap 13 and body 12 into assembled relationship.

The present invention principally concerns the means provided for elfecting an eflicient scaling of the liquid carried by the body 12 of such a device, with the sealing means lbeing effected upon tight assembly of the cap 13 onto the body 12.

A stopper or plug 20 is tted into the neck 14 of the body 12. The plug 20 desirably is formed of a resilient plastic material, such as nylon or polyethylene. A preferred embodiment of the plug 20, clearly shown in section in each of Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7, comprises an integrallymolded member having a central bore and generally cylindrical side wall or cylindrical type sleeve 24 adapted to snugly be received in the neck 14 of the body 12, and a transversely extending annular flange 28 adapted to lie over the circular mouth 16 of the body neck 14. An annular spacing web 30 extends inwardly from the sleeve 24, and carries at its inner type sleeve 32 which is adapted to snugly receive acylindrical stern 34 of an associated nozzle 35 yet to be deto Fig. 5, but showing an scribed., The base of the nozzle 35 is seated on al1 annular abutment such as the shoulder or flange 38 which extends inwardly from the sleeve 32, said flange 38 provided with a central opening 49, otherwise not imperforated.

The nozzle 35 is provided at its free end 39, that is the end opposite stem 34, with an orifice 44 for the dispensing of fluid by means of an associated applicator or brush assembly 45, comprising in the exemplary form shown elements 46-48. A valve plug 46, which carries the bristles 47 of the applicator brush, is carried at the end of a plunger stem 48, and the plunger 48 is adapted orifice-closing position by a coil which bears against the plug 46 which is bottomed against flange 38 of the -body-plug 20. The stem of plunger 48 is slidably received in an opening 49 provided in plug-flange 38, and that opening also permits the liquid to ow from the body 12 into the nozzle 35.

The plunger is guided within nozzle 35 by means -of lugs 54 radially extending from the plug 46 for guided slliding relationship along the interior bore of the nozz e 35. f

With a dispensing nozzle as shown, the liquid to be dispensed ows from the interior of the body 12 through plug opening 49 and into the hollow interior of the nozzle 35. The orice 44 at the free end of the nozzle is normally closed by the plug 46, blocking passage of the material thro-ugh that orifice 44 to the bristles 47. The arrangement is such that when the material on the bristles 47 becomes exhausted, the user pushes down on the applicator body 12, forcing the bristles 47 and the plunger 48 upwardly relative to the nozzle 35, against the bias of spring 50, thereby retracting the valve plug 46 and permitting a further charge of material to liow through the orifice 44 and onto the bristles 47.

The closure cap generally referred to above byireference numeral 13 conveniently comprises a rigid outer shell 60, which may be conveniently molded from a plastic periphery a cylindrical` li material such as Bakelite, having a closed hollow interior into which is fitted a sealing cup sleeve or liner 62. The cup sleeve 62 is formed of a resilient material such as plastic of the type lof nylon or polyethylene, andthe sleeve is desirably held in place in the shell'tit)` bythe fricti nal grip between the juxtaposed surfacesof'fthe two'pa'rts'. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4.," 'and"6,' the'end or closed bottoni 63 of the cup sleeve` iicai'ris'han up-V standing pin-like projection 64 adapted "top'enetrate the brush bristles and engage the nozzle plug'V during'as sembly of the closure cap 13 ontovtheIr body 12 to lforce a withdrawal of the brush bristles 47 into a protected position within the nozzle' 35, as`shown in Fig. 5.k It should be noted that the steril of the pin 64 is tightly en# gaged by the end of the 'cup sleeve 62 while vthe head 650i' the pin is' clamped'between the closed end of Vthe shell 60 andthe closedend 630i the cup sleeve. If desired, the head 65 can be' seated in a recess 68 formed in the shell.' i'

As shown in Fig. 4, the cap is in a position of initial address onto the body 12- As there shown, it is in a cocked or oli-center relation with the body. However, the elongation of'the cap past the end of lpin 64 cooperates withithe nozzle: 3`5`to eiect a self-alignment which positions Lpin 64 centrally of the nozzle.

Below'the threads 19 on the mouth of the cap 13, the cap shelleXtends inwardly to provide a radial annular shoulder74 adapted to engage the flange 28 of the bodyplug. 2t). `As'the cap`is drawn toward the applicator body 12.by vthe interengaging threads 18-19, the shoulder 7:4 is bottomed vagainst the plug ange 2S to a clamp the ange between the shoulder and the mouth '16 of the bottle neck. This provides part of the sealing feature of the present invention.

AA 'secondseal is created between the orifice end of the nozzle andthe closed end of the cup liner 62 as shown in Fig. 5 .when'tliecap is threaded on the'bottle neck. As therein shown'the end wall 63 -of the liner isff'or'ced against' the nozzle end 39' to seal theoriiice 44.-

A third seal is createdbetween the stem portion 34 of the nozzle and the plug when the end of the stern is forced against theiplug flange 38 Vby the end thrust exerted 4from the capv liner being bottomed on thenozzle endv 39, The forcing of the stem end against the plug flange38 tends to stretch the plug sleeve thereby reducing itsdiameter and causing the sleeve to moretightly embrace the stem.

The multiple seal thus includes a clamped plug ilange between the cap shoulder and bottle mouth thereby providing a gasket seal;,a resilient liner wall pressed over the oriiced end of the nozzle thereby providing a sealing cap'for `theorilice; and a stressed plug sleeve and ange embracing the stem portion of the nozzle thereby providing a nozzle seating seal. All of these seals are automaticallyobtained when the cap 13 is threaded homeon the bottle neckt14.,

Inthe modiiication illustrated in Fig. 7 parts substantially identical withl parts shown in Figs. 1`i`to' 6l have been marked `with the same reference numerals. As shown in Fig. 7 the modiiied applicator 10d includes the bottle 12, the 'plug' 2Q, and the nozzle 35 of the device 10. However, the guide lugs 54 on the brush .assembly 45 are eliminated. Also eliminated is the brush retracting pin 64, for in theV embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, closure ,of the cap does not effect a retraction of the brush assemblybut rather, provides means for receiv ing the bristles t7f in an extended position. To this end, a diiiferent cap 13a is provided, in whichthe cap shell 6Ghz is formedto providea well or pocket '61a at its closed end. A resilient liner-.means such as the cup-like sleeve 62a having tapered' side-,walls 62h and `a bristlereceivingwell such as the pocket 62C covers that closed end of the cap 69a and'pocket 61a. The liner is formed of a shape which presents itsfs'ide-wall portion y6217 smoothly tapering tomerging with' its wellfor pocket 62e,

providing a generally smooth wall for guiding the bristles 47 into the pocket 62C upon assembly of cap 13a with the body 12.

It should be noted that clearance is provided between the end wall of said liner-pocket 62C and the bristles 47 in extended position, thereby assuring against cramping of those bristles 'when the cap 13a is assembled onto the body.

In this Fig. 7 embodiment, threading cap 13u onto the body` 12-` causes sleeve side-wall 62h to engage nozzle end-portion 39. This elects a sealing relationship eiectively sealing the nozzle orice 44. A second seal is effected by the thrust sustained, by the nozzle, for that thrust forces nozzle 3S into sealing relationshipv with the abutment ilange 38,. The thrust on the abutment ange 38 tends to stretch plug sleeve 32 which carries that flange 38, thereby causing the sleeve 32 to more rmly embrace the nozzle end-portion 34 and effectuate an additional seal` Further sealing is obtained as the tlange 38 and sleeve 32 are urged into the bottle 12, for they pull on the plug tiange 28 to cause it to sealingly engage the bottle mouth 16 on which it is seated.

Thus, a device according to either embodiment of my invention is provided with a multiplicity of seals to give positive and effective sealing of the applicator contents from the outside atmosphere, and those seals are obtained in response to a single' action of screwing cap 14 to the body 12 in a normal manner.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a new and vimproved fountain applicator having the dcsired` advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects, including/those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention as described.

It will .be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from Athe scope of the novelfconcepts of` the present invention.

Iclaimas .my invention:

l. Al device of the type described, comprisinga hollow body adapted to contain liquid therein, said body including a mouth, a nozzle projecting outwardly from the mouth of said body, a plug member formed of resill ient material providing a radially outwardly extending flange, a iirst annular sleeve, a second annular sleeve and a radially inwardly extending ange, said radially outwardly extending angebeing seated on said mouth, said first annular sleeve being snugly received in said mouth, said second annular sleeve snugly receiving the base end portion of said nozzle, said radially inwardly extending flange presenting an end labutment in said second annular sleeve, the base end portion of said nozzle being seated on said abutment, a removable closure cap embracing said nozzle, said cap having an end seal overlying .the nozzle end to seal the nozzle, thread means interconnecting said cap and said body, said cap having an internal shoulder seating on said radially outwardly extending flange and bearing thereon in response to tightening of. said cap onto said body to effect a sealing engagement of said cap onto said flange and said angefonto the mouth of` the body, saidv overlying end seal of said cap forcing the base endl of said nozzle into sealing engagement with said end abutment while the shoulder is bottomed on the radially outwardly extending flange in response to tightening of said cap onto said body.

Y 2. A device ofthe type described, comprising a hollow body adapted to contain liquid therein, said body includmg. a mouth, a nozzle projecting outwardly from the mouth of said body, a plug member formed of resilient material and providing a radially outwardly extending ange seatedon saidmouth, said plug member embodying a iirstannular sleeve means snugly received in said mouth,` said plug member embodying a secondannular sleeve meanssnugly receiving.l the base endv portion of said nozzle, said plug member embodying@ radially/inassaggi wardly extending flange presenting anend abutment in said second sleeve means, said abutment having a central opening, but otherwise imperforated, the end portion of said nozzle being seated on said abutment, a removable closure cap; thread means interconnecting said cap and said body, said cap having an annular shoulder seating on said radially outwardly extending flange and bearing thereon in response to tightening of said cap onto said 'body to effect a sealing engagement of said cap onto said flange and said flange onto the mouth of the body, said cap having means engaging said nozzle to force the base end of said nozzle into sealing engagement with said radially inwardly extending flange in response to tightening of said cap onto said body.

3. A device of the type described, comprising a hollow body adapted to contain a supply of liquid therein, said body including a neck portion with a mouth, a nozzle projecting outwardly from the mouth of said body, a plug member formed of resilient material and providing a radially inwardly extending flange, a first cylindrical sleeve means, a second cylindrical sleeve means and a radially inwardly extending fiange, said radially outwardly extending fiange being seated on said mouth, said first sleeve means being snugly received in said mouth, said second sleeve means snugly receiving the base end portion of said nozzle, said radially inwardly extending flange presenting a surface having seated thereon the stem of said nozzle, a removable closure cap, means for drawing said cap and said body into assembled relationship, said cap having ange means seating on said radially outwardly extending ange and bearing thereon to effect a sealing engagement of said cap onto said flange and said fiange onto the mouth of the body, the inner surfaces of said cap bearing against one end of said nozzle to force the opposite end into sealing engagement with said radially inwardly extending ange in response to tightening of said cap onto said body.

4. A device of the type described, comprising a hollow body adapted to contain liquid therein, said body including a mouth, a substantially cylindrical type nozzle projecting outwardly from the mouth of said body, a plug member formed of resilient material and providing a radially outwardly 'extending flange, a first cylindrical sleeve member, a second cylindrical sleeve member, and an annular abutment means extending inwardly of said second sleeve member, said radially outwardly extending flange seating on said mouth, said first sleeve member being snugly received in said mouth, said second sleeve member interiorly snugly receiving the base portion of said cylindrical nozzle, and said annular abutment means extending inwardly of said second cylindrical sleeve member having a cylindrical opening, but otherwise imperforated, and having seated thereon the stem of said nozzle, a removable closure cap, means for drawing said cap and said body into assembled relationship, said cap having flange means seating on said radially outwardly extending flange and bearing thereon to effect a sealing engagement of said cap onto said flange and said flange onto the mouth of the body, said cap including a resilient liner means bearing against the outlet end of said nozzle in sealing relationship therewith inv response to drawing of said cap into assembled relationship with said body to force the base end of said nozzle into sealing engagement with said annular abutment means.

5. A device of the type described, comprising a hollow body adapted to contain a supply of liquid therein, said body having a cylindrical neck including a mouth, a plug member having a central opening, but otherwise imperforated, assembled within said neck and in sealing c-ontact with said mouth, said plug member formed of resilient material to integrally provide a radially outwardly extending sealing flange mtans, a cylindrical sleeve means and a seat means, said radially outwardly extending flange meansy being seated on said mouth, a nozzle piJ jecting outwardly from the mouth of said plug member, said sleeve means carrying said nozzle, said seat means seating said nozzle, a removable closure cap, said cap having means engageable with a portion of said nozzle adjacent the outlet end thereof when said cap is assembled onto said body to urge the base of -said nozzle against said seat means in a sealing relationship therewith and to stress said cylindrical sleeve means to thereby urge said radially outwardly extending sealing flange means against said body mouth in a sealing relationship therewith.

6. A fountain applicator which comprises a bottle having an exteriorly threaded neck, an orifced nozzle projecting from said neck, an applicator assembly carried b'y said nozzle, an adapter plug arranged between said nozzle and said neck, and a closure cap for the bottle, said plug having a radially outwardly extending flange, a first cylindrical sleeve member, a second cylindrical sleeve member and a radially inwardly extending fiange, said first cylindrical sleeve member snugly fitting in said neck, said second cylindrical sleeve member snugly receiving the base end portion of said nozzle therein, said cap beingprovided with an internal shoulder and having internal screw threads at the open end thereof engaging the threads on said neck, a resilient insert arranged upon the inner walls of said cap for engaging the nozzle adjacent the discharge end thereof to seal the orifice thereof and said cap when threaded onto the bottle neck causing said insert to sealingly engage the free end portion of said nozzle, the base end of the nozzle to sealingly engage the radially inwardly extending flange of said plug, and said cap shoulder to sealingly engage the radially outwardly extending ange.

7. A fountain applicator which comprises a bottle having an exteriorly threaded neck, an oriiiced nozzle projecting from said neck, an applicator assembly carried by said nozzle, an adapter plug between the nozzle and bottle neck, and a closure cap for the bottle, said plug having a radially outwardly extending flange, a first cylindrical sleeve member, a second cylindrical sleeve member and a seat means, said first sleeve member fitting in said neck, said second sleeve member snugly receiving an end portion of said nozzle therein, said seat means seating said nozzle, said cap having internal screw threads adjacent the open end thereof for engaging the threads on said neck, and means carried by the interior wall of said cap engaging the nozzle adjacent the outlet end thereof and the radially extending plug flange to urge the base end of the nozzle into sealing relationship with said seat means of the plug, and the radially outwardly extending ange of said plug to sealingly engage the neck of said bottle.

8. A fountain applicator which comprises a bottle having an exteriorly threaded neck, anroriliced nozzle projecting from said neck, an applicator assembly carried by said nozzle and including a dispensing brush means extending therefrom through the orifice thereof, an adapter plug between the nozzle and the bottle neck, and a closure cap for the bottle, said plug having a radially outwardly extending flange, a first sleeve member, a second sleeve member, and a radially inwardly extending flange, said first sleeve member snugly fitting in said neck, said second sleeve member snugly receiving the base end portion of the nozzle therein, said radially inwardly extending flange having an aperture therein, but otherwise imperforated, said cap having internal screw threads engaging the threads on said neck when threaded thereon, a resilient insert carried upon the inner walls of said cap engaging the exterior of said nozzle about the orifice outlet and operative to seal the orifice thereof when the cap is threaded on the bottle neck, and said cap when threaded onto the bottle neck causing said insert to move axially to sealingly engage the nozzle adjacent the outlet end thereof, the base end of the nozzle to move axially and sealingly engage said radially inwardly extending ange of said plug, Vand the radially outwardly extending flange of said plug to move axially and sealngly engagethe neck of said bottle, said resilient insert being formed to provide a well for receiving the dispensingbrush when said cap is closed onto said body.

9. A fountain applicator` which comprises a bottle having a cylindrical exteriorly threaded neck including a mouth portion, an orifice nozzle projecting `from said neck, an applicator assembly carried by said nozzle and including a dispensing brush means extending therefrom through the orifice thereof, an adapter plug between the nozzle and bottle neck, and a `closure cap for the bottle, said plug having a radially outwardly extending ange, a rst sleeve member, a second sleeve member and a radially inwardly extending flange, said rst sleeve member snugly tting into said neck, said second sleeve member snugly receiving the base end portion of the nozzle therein, 4said radially inwardly extending ange having an aperture therein, but otherwise imperforated, said cap having internal screw threads adjacent its open end for engaging the threads on the neck, a resilient insert in said cap for `engaging the nozzle about said orifice and operative to seal the orice thereof when the cap is threaded on the neck, and said cap when threaded onto the bottle neck moving the insert 4axially to sealingly engage the free end of the nozzle, the base end of .the nozzle to sealingly engage the radially inwardly extending ange of said plug, and the radially outwardly extending ange of said plug to sealingly engage the bottle neck and mouth porff tion, said resilient insert being formed to provide a well for receiving thedispensing brush means when said cap is closed onto saidbody, said insert diverging from said well to provide a guide surface smoothly tapering to and merging with said wellrto smoothly guide said dispensing brush means into said well during assembly of said cap onto said body.

References Cited in :the le of this patent UNITED vSTATES PATENTS 1,188,971 .Miller June 27, 1916 1,218,528 Curcio Mar. 6, 1917 '2,700,784 Brock Feb. 1, 1955 2,806,239 VWittnebert Sept. 17, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 651,084 Great Britain Mar. 14, 1951 v280,036 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1952 

